Monday 15 April 2013

Brighton Marathon 2013

I know its been a while since my last blog but thought I better blog about Brighton.  I have completed 20 weeks of training and battle the elements of wind, rain, gales, snow and ice and the occasional bit of sunshine. There have been group of us marathon training and we have been training together.  We mainly ran the same route but just a bit further for our longer runs.  Us girls, Lucy, Kirsty, Rachel and I would run ahead and then Tim and Dave would try and catch us up by doing a little extra at the start and then a bit extra on the way out before turning back to catch us. Sometimes they caught us and sometimes they didn't.  I have also completed races and got a few PB's along the way.  Also I got a pain in my foot one week and had to pull out of Thanet 20, the first time I ever had to pull out of a race. I didn't know what it was and didn't want to cause any damage. I had a massage the next day and it turned out it was tight muscles. The massage soon sorted me out and I was straight back to training.  This year I got 18 miles in rather than 20. I did manage to get in 3 x 18 miles a 17 and 16 and thought another 2 miles wouldn't make much difference to my training. Tim also joined me on the longer runs which helped him to be on his feet longer than he normally would of done. So all in all my training had gone pretty well.

The day before Brighton, Tim and I had travelled down to Brighton to pick up my number as this year you had to collect it rather than them being posted out.  Weather forecast for the day was sunshine and 17 degrees but oh no on Saturday it was a gale and Tim had great delight in saying its Deal 5 all over again!!!

So Marathon day arrived and Tim and I got the park and ride to Preston Park where we met up with Steve who was only staying across the road!! Then we were shortly joined by Dave, Lucy, Kirsty and Will who had come down to watch and cheer us on. We also met up with Mick and his family.

Whilst getting ready it started to rain, where was this sunshine? I decided to change my vest to a t-shirt which is an improvement to long sleeve which I had been previously wearing.  I gave the gang instructions on where to stand and handed over the Olympic torches for them to hold so they stand out.  Steve and I said our goodbyes and headed to our pens.

Whilst in the pen, just about to start it kind of dawned on me that we didn't arrange a meeting point.  Luckily I had my phone and told them where to meet. Phew!!!

It didn't take long and then we were off and I high fived the starter but I can't remember who it was!! First of all we did a lap around the park where the gang were standing, still with Steve at this point and we had our pic taken. Steve then left to do his thing.  After the lap around the park we headed out on the main road where the gang was and again saw them at around just after mile 3. Also saw Mick's family along the way as well.  After doing a few different loops we headed left along the seafront up towards the marina where there were many long hills to face.  At about mile 6 I saw the elite on the side and they are just so quick and made it look so easy!!  Looking at my splits for the first 10K, I was bang on target for 4hrs. 

At expo I was shown how to use the water bottles, they were floppy bottles with a seal so the water doesn't leak whilst running.  Last year Tim had a disaster by attacking Kirsty with it so knew there must be an art to it.  Anyway I picked up the water and at times it was difficult to get the water out and I squeezed harder and the water struck the back of my throat and I choked!! This happened a few times along the way.

The course was hilly and this sucked away my energy and by mile 10 I had had enough!!! I hadn't been well with a cold and had an upset stomach and didn't have any energy left.  I didn't go out too quick, done my training and really up to about 14 miles should of been quite easy before me tiring. So put it down to not feeling 100%. So from about mile 10 and onwards I did stop and walk before getting back to running again.  Along the way the crowd were great shouting out my name. The sun also came out.

The plan was for the gang to stand at about 14 but when I heard my name at about 13, I turned round and realised it was gang not quite being able to get to 14.  There were many people to get past and crossing of roads must of been difficult. I knew then the next time would be at about mile 18.  Still I was stopping to walk and to pick up running again, I wasn't going to give up, knew I wasn't going to get the time I wanted but had some hope of getting a PB still.  So at mile 18, there were the gang and shortly afterwards I saw Faith and we ran together for a little while before doing our own thing.  We were now heading towards the Power Station and there was an improvement to the crowds of previous 2 years I had done it.  I soon saw Steve on the other side and he was doing well, I knew I had a bit to go around the Power Station yet. He looked strong.   I then saw on the other side Tim's mate Steve.  He shouted and I just realised who it was when he went past.

I was glad to get out of the Power Station as then it was the final straight along the seafront. The end was now in sight. Then I was surprised to see the gang at about mile 25 so that was great and I also saw Leah on the home straight.  Yay I can now see the end and what a relief, it was all over and I got my medal. My time 4:33:50 - 1 minute course PB, not quite a PB.

I had then found a place to plonk myself down. I then saw a guy fully dressed in normal clothes with a dog on a lead. I don't how he got there as it was literaly at the finishing line. This guy was wearing a medal and security got straight onto him and to get it back off him.

Now it was a case of finding Tim and the others. I was now stiff and plonked myself on the letter F waiting to be reunited!!! We then went to the Harvester and met up with Steve and his parents.

It was great seeing Tim and my friends along the way around the course.  I also saw Martin Burk, Leah and Chloe and also one of Tim's works mate who called out to me. Thanks to you all and also thanks to all my kind messages of wishing me luck.

BRIGHTON NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!